India not welcome in NATO exercises, says Italian military head

(ANSA) - Rome, February 19 - Italy's Chief of Defense Staff
Luigi Binelli Mantelli said Wednesday that he is confident the
new premier and his cabinet will support efforts for a swift
resolution to the case of two Italian marines accused in India
of killing two fishermen while on anti-piracy duty.

He said that Italy was also "opposed to the participation
of Indian ships in NATO exercises".

"The marines affair is to be handled by any government
taking office," said Binelli Mantelli, outside a conference at
Rome's Luiss university.

Premier-designate Matteo Renzi is poised to form a
government in the next few days.

"(Foreign Minister Emma Bonino, Defense Minister Mario
Mauro) have taken charge (of the case) and I am certain that any
government that will be formed will continue to support this
commitment," he added.

"I do not know if it will solve the problem, but certainly
it is not a passive attitude on the part of our government's
commitment," he said.

Officials and the families of marines Salvatore Girone and
Massimiliano Latorre were frustrated on Tuesday when India's
Supreme Court announced the latest in a series of delays in the
case that has been percolating without charges for two years.

Bonino said she would be urging a range of allies, from the
NATO military alliance to the United Nations as well as the
European Union, to press the Indian government to deal with the
situation.
Latorre and Girone are accused of killing fishermen
Valentine (aka Gelastine) and Ajesh Binki after allegedly
mistaking them for pirates and opening fire on their fishing
trawler while guarding the privately owned Italian-flagged
oil-tanker MT Enrica Lexie off the coast of Kerala on February
15, 2012.
The EU is backing Italy and has said the case threatens the
future of anti-piracy operations.

One week ago, NATO Secretary-General Anders Fogh Rasmussen
said he was "personally concerned" that two Italian marines may
be facing charges laid by India under an international terrorism
act.

He said the case could have "negative implications" for the
fight against piracy, echoing European Union officials.